The scene of the fire on Sunday morning.
PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Police Force KPSM and the St. Maarten Fire Department were directed to Front Street around 9:00am Sunday where it was reported that one of the businesses was on fire.
On arrival at the junction of Afloopsteeg and Front Street, the Fire Department noticed smoke coming out of the store Caribbean Paradise.
Firefighters were forced to remove the steel door at the front to gain entrance to the building. After removing the door, they conducted a quick assessment of the fire, which was brought under control by firefighters shortly afterward.
For the safety of the public and emergency personnel, Front Street was partly closed for a few hours.
During the Fire Department’s preliminary investigation, a lack of ventilation was one of the problems encountered in trying to control the fire and smoke. “Because of this situation it took a while before the store was rendered safe to enter,” said the Fire Department in a press release.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
